Local man strives for transparency

Thursday

Oct 31, 2013 at 11:15 AM

MIDDLEBORO — The exact location of a proposed registered marijuana dispensary (RMD) in Middleboro is not being revealed yet, but the Middleboro resident who is seeking Massachusetts Department of Public Health approval to open the non-profit medicinal marijuana facility in town says he is striving for transparency while working with town officials throughout the process.

JEAN PERRY

MIDDLEBORO — The exact location of a proposed registered marijuana dispensary (RMD) in Middleboro is not being revealed yet, but the Middleboro resident who is seeking Massachusetts Department of Public Health approval to open the non-profit medicinal marijuana facility in town says he is striving for transparency while working with town officials throughout the process.

Timothy Shaw, president of Green Harvest Wellness, wants the residents of Middleboro to know that, although the state's regulations are rigorous when it comes to the security of the facility, he plans to go above and beyond the state's requirements to make it even more secure.

"We're going to be so secure," said Mr. Shaw during a phone interview, "that it's going to be like Fort Knox".

Mr. Shaw said he still cannot disclose the exact location of his Middleboro dispensary because he is still in the process of a purchase agreement for a site on Rte. 28.

"I'm an open book," said Mr. Shaw. But still, the pursuit of RMD approval is a competitive process, he said, and "knowledge is power."

"I'm trying to be as transparent as possible because I want the support of the community," he said.

Mr. Shaw's application has passed Phase I of the permitting process and applications for Phase II are accepted until Nov. 21. The Mass DPH will begin issuing provisionary licenses after Jan. 31, 2014 with final approval expected later in the spring of 2014.

At least one, and up to five licenses will be issued for Plymouth County and within the county there are currently 19 applications. The state will register 35 RMDs across the state within the first year. The voter-approved law to legalize RMDs in Massachusetts went into effect Jan. 1.

A while back, Mr. Shaw took some selectmen on a tour of a RMD in Providence to show them first-hand what they should expect out of a medicinal marijuana dispensary in Middleboro, which made a strong impression on Selectman Allin Frawley.

"I was amazed by it. I couldn't believe how secure and professional it was," said Mr. Frawley during a phone interview this week. "It was as secure as secure can be."

Mr. Frawley said he had a change of heart once he toured the Slater Compassion Center with Mr. Shaw, and he now supports having a RMD in Middleboro.

"I wasn't crazy about the idea," said Mr. Frawley. "I probably had some of the same prejudices as everybody else. (The tour) was what really changed my mind."

Chairman of Selectmen Stephen McKinnon, who has been outspoken in his opposition to a RMD in town, could not be reached in time for comment.

Mr. Shaw has met with Police Chief Bruce Gates to discuss the proposed facility, including the state-regulated requirements on security. Chief Gates said Mr. Shaw asked him for his support, but he is not giving it to him for a number of reasons.

"I don't want it in town," said Chief Gates. He opposes RMDs because he believes it goes against federal law.

"It's illegal." He continued, "If it's a drug, then sell it in a drug store."

Chief Gates said the main reason why he does not welcome the facility in town is because of the trouble he predicts it is going to cause.

"You're bringing more drugs into town," said Chief Gates. "They (Green Harvest Wellness) are going to get ripped off and cause violence as a result of their operation."

Mr. Shaw said he respects Chief Gates, and he is not here to change the chief's opinion.

"We just want to aim for 110 percent as we comply with state regulations," said Mr. Shaw, "and make sure that we are"¦the gold standard for the state."

The Mass DPH requires that RMDs be registered as non-profit organizations, which means the town, although it cannot generate taxes from the business, could receive funding from the company for municipal projects from remaining revenue after all the costs of running the business are covered.

Mr. Shaw said he expects he will meet with selectmen to discuss how his business should invest its money in the town, should Mr. Shaw receive approval for his RMD.

Voters at the Oct. 7 special town meeting adopted an amendment to the local zoning bylaws, creating a new use for RMDs in the table of uses under commercial uses, while limiting RMDs to the general use (GU) district, essentially along Rte. 28 from the rotary south to the Rochester town line.

Why did Mr. Shaw choose Middleboro as the site of his proposed RMD? He said because he lives in Middleboro, and it just happens to be accessible to many prospective patients due to its close proximity to Routes 24, 495, and 44.

If Mr. Shaw receives approval for his RMD, Green Harvest Wellness will dispense medicinal marijuana in a variety of forms, focusing mainly on ingestible forms and tinctures in addition to marijuana that is smoked and inhaled. The marijuana will not be grown onsite; rather the company will farm and process the marijuana at a site in an undisclosed town.

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